Social Work Collection

Collection Overview

The collection supports teaching needs, advanced study and research through the doctoral level of the Graduate School of Social Work. The curriculum features four areas of concentration, including: Older Adults and Families; Children, Youth, and Families; Health and Mental Health; and Global Practice. Books, periodicals, and online databases are selected to provide comprehensive coverage in these four areas. The Social Work Library's collection also supports courses required as part of the core curriculum. The library's resources are collected to encompass both clinical and macro perspectives. Social Work is an interdisciplinary field, and the library collection overlaps with areas of study such as psychology, sociology, political science, economics, education, and the allied health fields. | View selected resources »

Interdisciplinary Elements of Subject Area
The social work profession requires a foundation in a broad range of areas including psychology, sociology, psychiatry, education, economics, political science, law, nursing and allied health fields. Social Work Library patrons often use the O'Neill Library for multidisciplinary study.

Formats and Types of Materials
The bulk of the monograph collection is in print format. Preference is given to purchasing journals that are available online. Priority is given to materials which support the School's present curriculum as well as the research interests of the faculty and doctoral students. Emphasis is on purchasing professional and scholarly materials. Reference books are chosen for their timeliness. Doctoral dissertations from the GSSW students are available in both print and online formats. Videocassettes are purchased selectively based on curriculum requirements.

Languages
English is the primary language of the collection. A course is offered in comparative social policy which includes a visit to either Cuba or China. In order to support this course, a few books in Spanish and Chinese are purchased at the specific request of the faculty member in charge.

Geographic Area Coverage
The primary emphasis of the collection is on social work practice in the United States. Other geographic areas are collected with the intent of supporting the new global practice concentration.

Time Periods
Primary emphasis is on the twentieth century, particularly contemporary developments. Usually nothing over ten years old is acquired unless it has historical significance for the curriculum.

Dates of Publication
Collection development is concentrated on the acquisition of current imprints. There are occasional retrospective selections.